Bio & Incident Details
Age: 44
Tour: 20 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Location: Illinois
Incident Date: 7/17/1936
Weapon: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect: One shot and killed
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Special Agent Roy Zearfoss was shot and killed when he and another agent were investigating trespassers at a rail yard roundhouse near U.S. 51, about one mile north of Carbondale, Illinois.
At approximately 2:00 pm, both agents came upon two suspected hobos in the rail yard. While questioning them, one suspect produced a .45-caliber automatic handgun from a satchel and shot both agents, striking Agent Zearfoss twice in the abdomen. The other agent was able to return fire, missing both suspects, who then took Agent Zearfoss' service weapon which had fallen to the ground. The suspects, after being joined by an accomplice nearby, commandeered a vehicle on the highway and fled. Agent Zearfoss was taken to a hospital and died three hours later, while the other agent recovered from his wounds.
All three suspects were captured early the following morning in West Frankfort, Illinois, by authorities who killed one suspect. Both of the other suspects were wounded and charged with murder. It was later determined all three suspects were ex-convicts who were planning a bank robbery in Dongola, Illinois, when approached by the agents.
Agent Zearfoss had served with the Illinois Central Railroad Police Department for 20 years. He was survived by his wife, 7-year-old daughter, brother and sister.
